Governor seeks law to end social promotion

Gov. wants to hold students back who can't read proficiently

The Governor is pushing forward with her plan to stop 3rd graders who can't read from moving on to the next grade.

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Governor seeks law to end social promotion

Gov. wants to hold students back who can't read proficiently

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Updated: 7:47 AM MST Jan 10, 2013

SANTA FE, N.M. —

Gov. Susana Martinez will once again push her plan to get more New Mexico kids to graduate, and she said a lot of that depends on students reading proficiently by the fourth grade.

Martinez wants a law that won't allow third graders to move on if they're not reading at the level they should be. She will also ask the legislature for $13.5 million to get younger kids the reading help they need.

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"I think it's hurting our children because if you're not reading at third grade level you are four times likely to drop out of school," Martinez said.

There is opposition to the governor's plan.

"There should never be one point and time for every kid. Every kid develops different," said Ellen Bernstein, the president of the Albuquerque teacher's union.

Bernstein also believes it's parents who should be making the choice to hold a child back, not lawmakers.